The Long and Short of It: The Madcap History of the Skirt â A Humorous and Illustrated Cultural Journey from Supreme Court to Hollywood

Basye, Ali; Corman, Leela

ISBN 10: 0061212989 / ISBN 13: 9780061212987

Published by Harper Paperbacks, 2007

Book is considered to be in acceptable condition. The actual cover image may not match the stock photo. Book may have one or more of the following defects: noticeable wear on the cover dust jacket or spine; curved, dog eared or creased page s ; writing or highlighting inside or on the edges; sticker s or other adhesive on cover; CD DVD may not be included; and book may be a former library copy. Seller Inventory # SEWV.0061212989.A

Synopsis:

From its simple beginnings as a unisex body wrap to its bold march forward as an iconic symbol of femininity to a haute couture fashion statement, the skirt has had a perilous journey--one day subject to accolades, the next ridicule, and even coming under fire before the Supreme Court. Cultural icon, garment of personal expression, verb or slur, the significance of the skirt is grander than merely serving as an article of clothing.

Through the years, skirts have been both liberating and restricting, inspiring and exasperating. Skirts transcend mere fashion, serving as barometers of the cultural zeitgeist. The Long and Short of It will humorously detail the evolution of the skirt and the women (and men) who wore them. Loosely divided by different skirts (the bustle, the hobble, the pencil skirt, the peasant skirt, miniskirt, etc.), the book will chronologically cover ancient times, pre-twentieth century, World War I, the flapper era, Hollywood years, World War II, rock n' roll, free love, women's lib, the Power Decade, and several others. The Long and Short of It will will feature:

• the relationship between women's salaries and their hemlines
• the history of the skirt through the changing wardrobe of America's first ladies
• religious references to the sacred nature of skirts
• nineteenth century fashion tips
• laws protecting women and their skirts
• The change in censorship of women's legs--by the length of Jane's skirt in classic Tarzan films
• crazy cases brought to court involving women's skirts--including a 2004 case of a woman lawyer barred from a courtroom by a judge--for wearing trousers

Snappy and fun, with two-color illustrations and amusing quotes and sidebars, this sassy history from famed book packagers becker&mayer! is the perfect combination of history, fashion, and culture.

About the Author:

Ali Basye is a fashion, travel, and lifestyle writer. A contributor to Crave: Seattle, she has also written scores of articles ranging from sex advice to fashion tips for Seattle Magazine, Seattle Bride, San Francisco Bride, and numerous websites.

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Long and Short of It: The Madcap History...
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Publication Date: 2007
Binding: Soft cover
Condition: acceptable